Treatment of milk powder



Dec. 30, 1930. 1. s. MERRELL ET AL TREATMENT OF MILK POWDER Filed July 23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 30, 1930. 1] s. MERRELI. ET Al. 1,786,858

TREATMENT OF MILK POWDER Filed July 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1930. l. s. MERRELL ET AL 1,786,853

TREATMENT OF MILK POWDER Filed July 23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 O o o /3 O 0 l as I 3 I T I, l 62 /8 ii g Ii i I 46 U Mix 1 I i 7 i 54 r? 63; I V A p a l i fl' '62 fi i If I 1 I gw w n WITNESS o o fo o o o o o o 00 W By 1930. I. s. MERRELL. ET AL 1,786,853

TREATMENT OF MILK POWDER Filed July 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet -4 Patented Dec. .3 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT, omca IRVING S. HERB-ELL m HEGE SGHIBSTED, OI' SYfiAOUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGHOBS, BY KESNE ASSIGNIEN'IS, '10 ImL-SOULE GOKPANY, INC., 0! NEW- YORK, H. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE :rnm'rnm 0: mx rownm Application me Jul at,

This invention relates to a new and im- ,pending application filed Jan. 29, 1925, in

the sole name of Helge Schibs ted, Ser. No. 643.

lleretofore, milk" powder, A particularly milk powder containing butter-fat, as wholemilkpowder, or cream powder, has been of quite limited keeping quality, and altho packed in air-tight containers, would aftera uncombined oxy en, not only oxfygen present few months,.develop a tallowy flavor, due

doubtless to oxidization of the butter-fat as a result of the fact-that the enclosing receptacle Or can contains considerable free or in the air aroun the particles 0 the powder, but also free or uncombined oxy 11 contained in or adhered to the particles 0 the powder.

By the expression free or uncombined oxygen as used in the specification and claims hereof, we mean the element oxygen consisting of two atoms of oxygen and being the molecular form O ontamed in the air, and we do not mean to include the oxygen chemically combined with the various constituentsof the milk powder.

The main object. of the invention is the production of an apparatus by means of which an article of commerce, particularly 7 a milk powder product contained in cans can be treated in an easy, ready, elficient and economical manner to produce a product con taining oxygen below a determined amount and packed if desired in an atmosphereoi a gas such as (10,, or nitrogen, etc., hich contain no uncombined oxygen, where the product will keep for long periods of-time without developing a tallowy or rancid flavor; 4

It is found that the free or uncombined oxygen content of ca'ns adapted :to contain the milk powder made by thespray process is about 75 cu.-c entimeters of oxygen for each ing which time 1925. Serial No. 45,009.

pound of powder. When all of the air in'the Q space around the powder is removed down to a pressureiof one or two millimeters of Y mercury, there still remains adhered to or contained in the powder seven or eight cu. centimeters of free or uncombined oxygen (measured under standard conditions) and this amount of free or uncombined oxygen contained in or adhered to the powder is sufficient in'itself to cause development of the tallowy flavor referred to.

Further, ordinary air has about 21%"of oxygen, whereas the air contained in or adhered to the powder has approximately 35% oxygen, showing that mllk powder is selective in its absorption of the gases of the. air, and its absorption coeflicient is higher for oxygen than nitrogen so that the contained air is richer in oxygen than ordinary air, and therefore, more harmful.

For these reasons, it is therefore essential that a portion of this contained or adhered oxygen be removed from the powder if the desired keeping quality is to be attained, and we have found that the free or uncombined oxygen included with each pound of powder should be reduced below 5 cu. centimeters per pound if a product having the desired keeping qualities is to be produced.

It has been further discovered that the oxygen adhered to or contained in the powder:

cannot be removed by merely drawing a vacuum u )on the powder, even tho that vacuum be a su stantially perfect one, and it is necessary in reducing the free or uncombined oxygen contentbelow the limit stated that the milk powder be maintained under a vacuum or surrounded by a gas that does not contain free or uncombined oxygen for a considerable period of time, for illustration, 20 hours, durthe adhered or contained free or uncombined oxygen is slowly given up by the powder, and the retained free or uncombined oxy en is thereby reduced in amount below the %imit stated.

Further, it has been discovered that most advantageous results are obtained when the method is carried on with milk powder packaged in air-tight containers which have a vent-hole of extremely small area, not greater container may be sealed at atmospheric ressure, .while t e cans are still giving gas through the vent-hole to prevent ingress o air to the container.

The apparatus hereinafter described adapts itself most satisfactorily and readily to a process of treating powdered milk in cans or receptacles having a minute opening as described whereby the free or uncombined oxygen content may be reduced below 5 cubic centimeters per pound of powder, and prefer-- ably below 3.5 cc. per pound of powder, and a product that will keep long periods of time may be efiiciently and economically produced.

Other advantages relate to the details of the apparatus and the parts thereof, all as will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of such apparatus.

Figure 2 is an elevation partially in section of a unit of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the kettles or tanks.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44, Figure 3. Figure 5 is a top plan view partially in section of the distributing head.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6, Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the article of commerce produced by this process previous to the sealing of the vent.

The apparatus as illustrated consists of a plurality of, in this instance sevenkettles or tanks number -1-- on the drawing, arranged substantially concentrically about a distributing head 2, altho such arrangement is not essential to the apparatus. Each tank or kettle, as here illustrated, com rises a verti-- cally arran ed cylindrical bo y part -3- of any suita le diameter and depth, combined with a cover --4- adapted to close the kettle air-tight.

For this purpose, the tank near its upper end is provided with an external annular channel or groove 5--- formed by welding or otherwise securing anangle-bar --6 to the outer surface of the tank near its upper end. This annular chamber is adapted to be filled,

or substantially filled with a suitable sealing composition, as for instance, a paraflin beeswax mixture which melts easily under the action of heat, and solidifies ra idly under the action of cold. For co-operation with the annular composition-containing channel, the cover -4 is formed with acircumferential depending flange -7 terminating in a pipe 10 secured to the lower end of the flange in any suitable way, as by welding, such pipe having an inlet 8 and an outlet -9 for either steam or cold water, the inlet 8 being suitably connected to a source of steam,

f ens about the pipe -10- in the channel 5- to thereb form an absolutely air-tight joint, and for the purpose of hastening the hardening of the composition, cold water may be forced through inlet 8 into the pipe 10.

In addition, the cover 4 is held in pro r position by means of a series of pivote clamps, each consisting of a threaded rod 11 pivoted on a bracket -l2- and cooperating threaded nut 13 for en aging the upper surface of bifurcated ugs l1 secured to and projecting outwardly from the edge of the cover 4- so that the threaded rods 11 may move into the bifurcated portions of the lugs, and the nuts -13 may then be tightened to lock the cover rigidly in place. 1 I

The cover is pivoted or hinged upon the body 3, and for this purpose is formed with radial hinge members 15 mounted upon pivot rod 16- which in turn is mounted upon the hinge member 17 secured to the body 3- of the kettle in like manner, as the brackets -12- by welding, or otherwise. This structure is, therefore, capable of being rendered absolutely airtight except for the outlet for air and the inlet for gas hereinafter described, both of which are valve-controlled and capable of being rendered air-tight.

Each tank is provided with an air outlet 18- in the form of a pipe, and each of these pipes extends to, opens upwardly through and is secured to the distributin head 2.

This distributing head, as ilustrated, is formed of a substantially flat plate, and has a circular flange 19 rising from its surface near one edge, and a plurality of circular flanges -20- arising from its surface and concentrically. arranged about the flange '19, so as to form a series of cup-shape a leading from a tank or kettle 1, and this pipe is preferably as illustrated, threaded into'a cylindrical sleeve -2l, which has a portion of the interior of its upper wall preferably smooth for sliding engagement with the U-shape connecting pipe or yoke 2 The base of the sleeve 21- is flanged outwardly and secured b bolts or otherwiseto the bottom wall of t e chamber formed by the flange 20, preferably concentrically arranged within the chamber, and is ing hea also concentric with the .pipe 18- and the opening in the bottom wall through which the pipe 18- projects upwardly. Additional securing means may be provided in" the form of a ring or washer -23- surrounding the pipe '18 below the distributd -2- and engaged by the bolts 24 which secure the sleeve -21 in lace.

It will be seen, therefore, that each of the tanks 1- has a pipe 18- and that the pipe..18.of each tank extends upwardly through an opening in the bottom wall of a respective chamber formed by one of the upstanding circular flanges In much the same manner, the chamber formed by the upstanding circular flange 19- is provided with a concentrically arranged sleeve 25 within the chamber, and aligned with an opening in the bottom wall of the chamber throu h which a pipe 26- projects for threa ed engagement with the interiorly threaded portion of the sleeve 25. The sleeve 25 preferably has its base flanged outwardly and secured to the bottom wall of the chamber within the flange 19 in any suitable way, as by bolts -27 which bolts also clamp the ring or washer 28- surrounding pipe -26- against the lower surface of the distributing head "2' i 2 The sleeve 25- is preferably of somewhat greater axial length than the sleeves 21 and the interior surface of its upper portion is preferably smooth for slidin engagement with the other end of the U-shape pipe or yoke 22-. i

It will be obvious, particularly from the disclosure of Fig. 6 that the sleeves 21- are concentrically arranged about the sleeve 25 and are all spaced equal distances from the sleeve -25 so that the end 27 of the U-shape pipe 22- can. be slidably positioned in the upper portion of any one of the sleeves 21, while the opposite end --Q8- of the U-shape pipe -22 remains in slidable engagement within the sleeve 25-, whereby the pipe 26 leading from the high vacuum pump 29- may be brought into communication with any one of the pipes 18, and thereby into communication with the interior of any one of the, tanks or kettles 1.

It is essential in the operation of this apf paratus for carrying out the method of this invention, that these connections be abso lutely air-tight in order that the pressure in any one of the tanks may be reduced as low as one or two millimeters of mercury, and for that reason a special structure is pro vided for effecting air-tight relation between the U-shape pipe -2.2 and the pipe 26- and any one of the pipes 18, and to eflect this result each of the annular chambers formed by the upstanding flanges -20 and the concentrically arranged sleeve --21- and the chamber formed by the flange 19- and concentrically arranged sleeve 25 is filled, or partially filled with a composition that preferably can be rapidly melted by the application of heat and rapidly hardened by the application of cold, as for instance, a mixture of paraflin and beeswax.

At the end 28 the U-shaped connecting pipe -'22 is provided with a laterally extendingflange 30 formed at its edge with a depending flange -31-, as perhaps best illustrated in Figure 6. In other words, this structure is in substantially the form of an angle-iron surrounding the end -2S of pipe -22 and the depending flange '31- terminates in a pipe -32- extending around the lower end of the flange, and welded or otherwise secured thereto, for conveying either steam to melt the sealing compound, or cold water to hasten the hardening of the compound.

As illustrated, the flange --30- comes into contact with the upper edge of the sleeve 25 when the end -28 of the pipe is positioned within the sleeve -25, as illustrated, and the flange 31-- and pipe -32- extend into the sealing compound, whereby the joint between pipe --28- and pipe 26- is rendered absolutely'air-tight.

In like manner, the opposite end -27-- of pipe 22- is formed with a laterally extending circular flange -33 formed at its edge with a circular depending flange -34-- rovided at its lower end with 'a pipe -35 or conveying either steam or water in like manner as the pipe -.32-, and this structure may be secured to the end -27- of pipe -22 in any suitable manner, as by welding, etc. and in connecting the pipe 22 with any one of the pipes -18, as may be desired, the circular pipe 35 is immersed or partially immersed in the sealing composition within the chamber formed by the upstanding flange -20-, so that an absolutely tight joint may be made between the end 27- of pipe 22- and any one of the pi es'18-. I

or the purpose of passing steam through the pipe 32- and-the pipe 35, a connecting pipe or conduit 36 is shown lead;

pose of connecting "the -U-shape dischargepipe -37 with the header 39- in all positions of the pipe.22, the distributing head 2 is formed with-a series of perforated bosses -41- concentrically arranged about the flange 19 and of -anumber equaltozthe number of tanks-1?, and the number of chambers formed by upstanding flanges--2 0', .and so arranged that'when the end ..--27-: of pipe 22- is arranged for communication with any one of the pipes -18, the free end of the pipe -37 will be slidably positioned within one of the respective bosses -4 1".

- Each of these bosses, as here shown seven in number, is connected by athreaded union with a pi 38- leading to the header 39 which is in the'form of an elongated cylinder extending substantially the entire width of and arranged beneath the distributin head -2-. However, this method of discfiarge is not essential, as each of the pipes -37- may discharge in any suitable way direct-l into a waste, ifdesired.

here s own, the pipe -.-22 is carried by a rotary and axially movable stud 42, 'ournaled, as illustrated, in a two part racket 43 carried from the distributing head :2--. The lower endof this stud may,

'as shown, be threaded into one section of a two part clamp -44--, the two parts of the clamp being secured together about the pipe 22, in any suitable and well known manvner, as by the bolts illustrated, and by this construction, the clamp 44- is tightlysecured to the ipe 22 nut -45- bein provided for ocking the clamp to the stu 42- the nut as shown, being spaced some distancefrom the lower surface of the adjacentportion of-br'acket so as to per mitaxial, as well as rotary movement of stud ,42-. V

. The axial movement is suflicient in length to permit removal of the end '27- of pipe from sleeve 21-, and the pipe -22 may then be moved about the end 28 as a pivot for insertion into any other one of thesleeves 21, thejsleeve 25- being of suflicient axial length so as to prevent disengafement of the end -28 of pipe -22-- tom the sleeve within the normal limits of movement of clamp 7 However, the clam stud and brackets may be omitted, if des red, as the U-tube will support itself, in any of the desired positions.

:5:- It: will beobviousthat by this construc- '29 may be B tion, the. vacuum pum broughtinto l -absolutely air-tight communiect vacuum.

cation with an one of the. kettles -1 for roducing in t at kettle a substantially per- The kettles -1 are I further-provided with an inlet pipe 46 for a gas, such as carbon-dioxide, nitrogen, or any other suitable gas not containing. or uncombined instance, 12

memes in connection with CO with the understand 'oxygen. The process will be here described ingthat gases as above described, may be I used). in its place with like results, except where additional advanta A may be specifically stated. As' shown, t is inlet is at the opposite side of the. tank from the exhaust pipe -18 and as best illustrated in Figure 1-, a substantially-semi-circular pipe 4=7 is utilized in connection with-each kettle, and a connecting tube 48 for or all of the tanks -1 may be brought into communication with the pipe '49-- which leads through a hot-water tank --51 to any suitable and ordinar containers 52 for carbon-dioxide, reducing valve 53-- being provided for. controlling the flow of the gas, and preferably as shown, the ipe 1s coiled within the hot-water ta 51 to effect any desired heating of the gas.

Each tank -1'- is rovided with a suitable independent relie device-so as to limit the pressure that can be produced within the tank so that it cannot rise above a pre-determined amount, as for instance, 12 pounds, and yet this relief device-is of such character as to permit the production of a perfect vac uum within the tanks. a

This structure consists of a pipe 54 connectedto the tank, 'andleading to a U-tube, one leg- 55- of. which is of some what less diameter than the opposite leg ,56' so that the le 56 is capable of 55 being at least 32=inches long, so as to permit the production of a substantially perect vacuum in the tanks --1 without inlet of air theretothrough the U-tube when sue tion is produced within the tanks,

-Upon .the production of ressure in any one of the tanks -1 should that pressure go above the pre-determined amount, as for ounds, the: mercur contained in its respective U-tube will be h own by the pressure into the receptacle -57- thereb permitting the esca e of the gas with whic the tank 15 charged to relieve the pressure.

opening valve 58 the mercury is permitted to return to 1 the U-tube for future automatic control.. Y

' Each pipe 18 contains a valve -59 by means of which communication with its respective tank is controlled, and for the- I balance the cover.

thereby produce an oil-seal rendering the valve air-tight under all conditions of operation.

For the purpose of assistinglin opening the cover A of any one of t e tanks 1, and maintaining it in open position, each cover is shown as provided with a pair of weights -61- lying outside the pivot rod 16-, and pivotally mounted on extensions from the cover 4, so as tosubstantially The apparatus is particularly designed for carrying out 'a method as follows:

The milk powder which it is desired to package is first placed in a suitable can or container -A-. Usually these cans come with separate covers, and the covers are provided with a vent-hole. --b. having a crosssectional area of from .00006 to .0002 sq.

inches per pound of powder the can is adapted to contam, i. e., we are assuming that the cans are substantially filled with powder.

y The cans are sealed with these covers, and are then placed in baskets 62- asbest illustrated in Figure 4. These baskets ma contain an suitable number of cans, depen ent upon t eir size, and the amount of powder which each can is adapted to contain.

- As at present used, each basket is adapted proximately 6' When the vacuum hasreache about .27 the valve -59 is opened wide. At the end of to contain approximately 400 one-pound cans. Each basket -62 is provided with a loose cover 63 that is rested upon the upper edge of. the basket, as illustrated in Fig. 5%, an does not form an air-tight joint with the body of the basket. Any number of these baskets *may be placed in one of the tanks --1',-and as at resent used, the size of the cient to accommodate three baskets stacked one'upon-the other, and each is uipp'ed with a loose cover -63.

e tank 1-- is then sealed absolutely airti ht by means of the cover -4- having its e set in a suitable compound or mixture, as above described, which solidifiesto seal, the joint. l

The tank is then connected to the vacuum pump 29 by means of the U-shape pipe -22- bringing its respective, pipe 18 nto communication with pipe --22., the oints between these pipes being sealedby sohdification of the sealing'compound about the depending flanges on pipe 22 The vacuum pump --29 is then started and the valve 59 to the tank is gradually opened, drawing vacuum at a 'speedof apof mercur per minute;

15 minutes the remaining ressure in the tank 1- 1s about one imeter of merthe valve 59 is then closed, and the tank cur-y, wit the enclosed baskets and cans is allowed ,to stand 20 hours, during which time'the" ves ofl' a'portion of its contained. or absor (1 oxygen, .or perhaps preferably powder in order to eliminate the entry of air 'or oxygen to the kettle as induced by the high vacuum therein, the respective valve is opened, the reducing valve 53.- bein properly regulated, and the tank -1 whic has been evacuated, is charged with carbondioxide, preferably up to a pressure of about two pounds persquare inch. This charging as at present carried on, required about six minutes. p

The valve --50 is then closed and the tank with its enclosed baskets allowed to stand twenty hours, during which time the pressureof carbon-dioxide if this is used, will gradually decrease from two pounds to the square inch down to about pound per square inch, the final pressure varyin somewhat with temperature and barometr c pressure.

When a gas such as nitrqgen is ultimately under control Q valve -59 an the tank- .is again evacuated, and. the pressure will again be reduced to about 1=.millimeter of mercury, and the free or uncombined oxygen content is reduced by this "operation to approximately 3.5 cubic centimeters for each pound of powder, which condition is below the limit re uired for producing the desired keeping qua 'ty of the powder, and eliminat= in the devplopmento a tallowy flavon.

he communicationwith the vacuum pump is then cut off, the respective valve 50 opened and under control of regulating valve -53, the tank is charged with carbondioxide toa pressure of about 10 pounds per square inch. This charging super-saturates the surface of the particles of-the powder with carbon-dioxide,zthereby causing a slow.

stream of carbon-diokide to escape through theiminute vents in the cans forabout the The tank charged with carbon-dioxide'toastantiallyv 10 pounds per pressure of su square inch is allowed to stand about 30 minutes, and the pressure is then gradually reinto the atmosr' lieved discharging the phere. This operation requires about'two or three minutes in orderjto get down to atmospheric pressure, when atmospheric price 2 7 sound of milk, powder, whereby-a milk that peri a size and the number of cans within .the

tank are of such a number that the vent-holes in all of the "cans. can be closed with solder, preferably within thirty minutes from the time the pressure was released, and as the cans are o(giving ofi' carbon-dioxide during entry of oxygen is not (permitted.

The article of commerce so pro ced consists of an air-tight container charged with a gas not containmg free or uncombined oxygen and enclosing milk-powder in which the free or uncombined oxygen content is below vfive cubic centimeters (measured under standard conditions) for each contained P er roduct, particularly one containing butterat is roduced having a keeping qualit never be ore attained or even a macho The cans may be tested for air-tig tness in an suitable way.

on carbon-dioxide isthe gas used, the cans are placed with the bottom up and left standin for at least seven da s, during which time it is found that the car on-dioxide Wlll be gradually absorbed and a vacuum of from .five to ei ht inches of mercury will be produced wit in the cans as a result of this partial absorption of the carbon-dioxide by the powder, and the vacuum existing in the cans W1 11 ull in the ends of the can. A ed for depression of the bottom ends in any suitable manner, as by means of an electric bell-tester, which causes a bell to ring if the bottom ehd depression. does not exceed a cer tain set distance. Theabsorption of carbondi'oxide by the owder and the vacuum resulting within t e cans therefrom provides a certain and sure wa of detecting at any time whether any of t e cans are leaking as the vacuum increases for a considerable period of time upto 11 to 15 inches of mercury, and the leaking cans can be sorted out as it is essential to the keeping quality of this article of manufacture that the cans be air- "tight. This roduct, in addition to the features above escribed, has thefurther characteristic that a vacuum exists in the con tainer. 1

In the use of the apparatus here shown, the tanks may be all in the course of utilization at the same ti'me, i. e. one of the tanks -1 may beLfilled and a vacuum drawn upon it; In the meantime, a second tankis being filled, and when the proper degreeof vacuum has been reached in the first tank,

the pipe 18. leading from the second tank is brought into communication with the pump by: the movable pipe -22-'-; andwhile r one weeks time, the cans are all test-.

the first tank is being charged with carbondioxide, or other gas, a vacuum is being drawn upon the second tank. In like manner when the proper vacuum has beenobtained in the second tank, pipe 22 is lifted up and moved around so as to bring the third tank into communication with the vacuum pump. So that the apparatus here shown constitutes a means whereby a substantially continuous process may be carried on throughout the day, the tanks being allowed to stand for 20 hours, and they are then successively evacuated, charged with carbon-dioxide, emptied, and the can sealed.

After the cans containing CO or gas absorbed to a similar extent have been allowed to stand for about seven days, during which time a partial vacuum is produced within the cans, it is eas to determine the leaking cans by the fact that the ends of the can are drawn in, and after that has been determined and the good cans selected out, additional carbon-dioxide or suitable gas may be in jected into the cans in any suitable manner so as to relieve the vacuum tending to collapse the cans, should that be desirable, and

the cans may then again be sealed. a 'I claim:

1. An oxygen reducing apparatus comprising a'plurality of receptacles, a distributmg head, separate'means connecting each receptacle to the distributing head, a pump, a

terminal for the pump at the. distributing head, and a U-shape pipe for selectively conseparate means connecting the receptacles to the distributing head.

2. An oxygen reducing a paratus comprising a plurality of receptac es, a distributair necting said pump terminal to any one of the mg head,- separate means connecting eachto that prising a plurality of receptac es, 9. distribut-' 11 mg head, separate means connecting each receptacle to the distributing head, a ump, a terminal for'the pump at the distri uting head, a U-shape pipe for selectively connecting said pump terminal to any one of the sop to t e arate means connecting the receptacles distributing head, means for sealing the joint between the U-shape pipe and any one of said separate connecting meaps, and'addi- I tional means for sealing the joint between" the terminal'and said pipe.

. 4. An oxygen reducing a paratus comprising a plurality of receptac es, a distributing head having a plurality of receptacle termdnal elements, one for each receptacle, means for connecting each receptacle to a respective terminal element, a vacuum pump said distributing element provided with a pump terminal element, means for connecting the pump to the pump terminal element, and a yoke for connecting the pump terminal element to any one of the receptacle terminal elements, each of said receptacle terminal ele ments including a surrounding cup-shape recess and a depending skirt on said yoke projecting into the cup-shape recess.

5. An oxygen reducing apparatus comprising a plurality of receptacles, a distributing head having a plurality of receptacle terminal elements, one for each receptacle, means for connecting each receptacle to a respective terminal element, a vacuum pump, said distributing element provided with a pump terminal element, means for connecting the pump to the pump terminal element, a yoke for connecting the pump terminal element to any one of the receptacle terminal elements, each of said receptacle terminal elements including a surrounding cup-shape recess and a depending skirt on said yoke projecting into the cup-shape recess, and a pipe extending around the lower edge of said skirt.

6. An oxygen reducing apparatus comprising a plurality of receptacles, a distributing head having a plurality of receptacle terminal elements, one for each receptacle, means for connecting each receptacle to a respective terminal element, a vacuum pump, said distributing element provided with a pump terminal element, means for connecting the pump to the pump terminal element, a yoke for connecting the pump terminal element to any one of the receptacle terminal elements, each of said receptacle terminal elements including a surrounding cup-shape recess, a depending skirt on said yoke pro ecting into the cup-shape recess, a pipe extending around the lower edge of said skirt, and means for supplying fluid to said pipe.

7. In anapparatus of the character described, a tank, means for roducing vacuum therein, means for admittmg a treating gas thereto, and means in communication with the tank capable of maintaining a substantially perfect vacuum therein while permit ting the escape of gas therefrom. when the pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined amount, said latter 'means including a U; tube, the leg which is connecte to the tank being at least thirty-two inches in length and of slightly less diameter than the opposite leg and a liquid within the U-tube.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank, means for producing vacuum therein, means for admitting a treating gas thereto, and means in communication with the tank capable of maintaining a substantially perfect vacuum therein while permitting the escape of gas therefrom when the p essure in the tank reaches a pre-determined amount, said latter means including a U-tube, the leg which is connected. to the tank being at least thirty-two inches in length and of slightly less diameter than the opposite leg, and a tank in connection with the opposite leg and a liquid within the U-tube.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of receptacles, a distributing head having a plurality of receptacle terminal elements, one for each receptacle, means for connecting each receptacle to a respective terminal element, a vacuum pump, said distributing element provided with a pump terminal element, means connecting the pump to the pump terminal element, and a shiftable member separable from each of the receptacle terminal elements for connecting 

